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DIRK Kuyt grabbed the only goal of the game to settle a truculent Merseyside derby as 10-man Liverpool beat Everton to further their top-four ambitions.
The Dutchman rose to head home a Steven Gerrard corner to settle a fierce game.
And it was little more than the hosts deserved after recovering valiantly from Sotiros Kyrgiakos’s first-half red card for a lunge at Marouane Fellaini.
Tim Cahill headed Everton’s best chance over but the visitors rarely threatened before Stephen Pienaar’s late red card.
The defeat ends a run of nine matches unbeaten for Everton, but manager David Moyes might quietly admit his side simply did not do enough to earn any more from a match that saw Liverpool play more than 60 minutes a man down.
For Liverpool, though, it was a precious win that served to underline their renewed strength of late.
The Red half of Merseyside have now secured 17 points from a possible 21 in their last seven league matches, but few will have been earned in such trying circumstances from a pulsating encounter memorable as much for its ferocity as its football.
Jamie Carragher was particularly aggressive in the opening exchanges, Fellaini fortunate that Atkinson missed him kicking out at Dirk Kuyt after the striker had been felled, while a booking for Pienaar after he had raked his studs down Javier Mascherano’s shin also looked decidedly lenient.
And so the home supporters were incensed when Kyrgiakos saw red.
The Greek defender’s challenge on Fellaini was undoubtedly fierce, leaving the ground as he launched himself two-footed towards the ball.
However, replays suggested Fellaini was equally guilty of a misjudgement as he too missed the ball, succeeding only in connecting with Kyrgiakos’s shin.
The Everton midfielder, stretchered off as a result of the challenge, was not punished, though, while Krygiakos had to have stitches in his leg in the dressing room before taking his early bath.
Premiership results
Bolton 0-0 Fulham
Burnley 2-1 West Ham
Hull 2-1 Man City
Liverpool 1-0 Everton
Man Utd 5-0 Portsmouth
Stoke 3-0 Blackburn
Sunderland 1-1 Wigan
Today's fixtures
Birmingham v Wolverhampton, 13:30
Chelsea v Arsenal, 16:00
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